Friends, family hold out hope missing Kona fisherman will be found alive

Although 42-year-old fisherman Earl Kekuanaoa Hind has been missing for nearly a week and the U.S. Coast Guard suspended its search efforts Tuesday afternoon, friends and family still have hope he will be found alive.

Anthony Vierra, a friend of Hind, said if there’s anybody who knows the ocean, it is Hind, an experienced fisherman.

“We’re hopeful he’s floating somewhere,” Vierra said.

Hind’s friends, who know him as Oa, launched a boat Tuesday morning off South Point and planned to search 180 miles offshore. Vierra said the waters around South Point were choppy and the winds were high through the weekend.

The hope is with calmer seas, searchers will be able to spot something.

Tuesday was the fifth day the Hawai‘i Fire Department, U.S. Coast Guard and Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement have been involved in a coordinated search of Hawai‘i Island’s coastline for Hind and his boat “Makalapua Onalani.”

The Coast Guard suspended its search at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday after it and partner agency crews had searched 200,048 square nautical miles for more than 242 combined hours since beginning their search the afternoon of April 10.

Agencies and assets involved in the search:

• U.S. Coast Guard Sector Honolulu.
• Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu.
• U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point.
• U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Gerczak.
• U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 140-03-13.
• Hawai‘i state Department of Land and Natural Resources.
• Hawai‘i Fire Department.
• Hawai‘i Police Department.
• U.S. Naval 3rd Fleet Commander, Task Force 32, Poseidon 8.

“We are deeply saddened to announce that despite widespread efforts, our search for Mr. Hind is now suspended,” said U.S. Coast Guard search and rescue mission commander Lt. Cmdr. Raphael Sadowitz with Sector Honolulu. “We appreciate the tireless work of our partners and the local community and extend our deepest condolences to Mr. Hind’s family and friends during this difficult time.” 

According to previous media reports, Hind and his 21-foot Force, with a 2-foot extension, white hull, light blue cabin and powered by twin outboard motors, launched April 7 for a fishing trip from a spot at South Point.

He and his boat were seen at about noon April 9 offshore near the Miloliʻi area, heading in a northerly direction. His truck and boat trailer were found parked near the South Point boat ramp area.

Hawai‘i Fire Department continued its search Tuesday, focusing on the northeast.

The department said the U.S. Coast Guard’s aircraft and cutter, as of 6 p.m. Monday, had covered 91,582 square miles, with 44 searches.

Hawai‘i Fire Department reported in an incident report that its boat has been out for 3 days, conducting 28 searches spanning 430 miles of coastline from Honokōhau Harbor to South Point, according to an incident report from the fire department.

The department’s two helicopters also have circled the entire island, spending 4 days in the air covering 1,724 nautical miles in 19 hours. Its drone also flew during the weekend for 8 hours, searching the coastal area from Halapē to South Point.

A GoFundMe account was started less than a day ago, seeking $50,000 to help family and friends secure more search assets as the days go on, nearly reaching their goal as of Tuesday morning with just more than $46,000 already donated.

“Every day that passes challenges us, but we haven’t lost faith,” the GoFundMe states. “No boat debris has been found, which gives us hope that Oa is still out there, waiting for us to bring him home.”